v8 and nutrition?

[Willbearsmom]

Is V8 a healthy juice option for kids? I am very paranoid about my child's nutrition and am always looking for ways to sneak more veggies and fruits into his diet. I know he will drink it and if it's just veggies and fruit I don't think it could be bad but I wanted to make sure!

[dcroberts]

The regular version has an extremely high sodium content. The more fruity versions, as with most processed juices, contain too much sugar to be truly called "healthy". Much of the fiber is removed when fruits and vegetables are commercially processed into juice. That said, I love V-8 juice! It is surely better than kool-aid or pop and will maybe help cultivate a taste for vegetables, so I wouldn't dismiss it entirely. I would recommend using the lower sodium variety of the vegetable juice however.

[lou]

you have to read the ingrediants. v8 now has varieties that are 100% fruit and vegetable juice where as before it contained high fructose corn syrup, etc... gerber has a carrot apple juice that my son just loves. read the ingrediant and get the juices that are 100% juice and water. I think juicey juice also makes a fruit and veggie blend.
also just as dcroberts said in juices you lose much of the fiber and get more sugar and sodium . so you want to limit your child's intake. my son is 16 months and only gets 4 ounces of juice mixed with 2 ounces of water per day.

if you want to sneak in more veggies there's other ways you can do it. my son loves mac n cheese. instead of making it with milk and butter I use two containers of gerber 2nd foods squash and I also add frozen peas and carrots. also wheat germ is super versatile and very nutritious. my son has also just had his first pbj. instead of smuckers get jelly that is 100% fruit, sugar free, or just use real fruit like bananas and use a natural peanut butter and add a sprinkle of wheat germ. then you get a healthy version of pb&j.

[mommywarrior]

I take the second foods from gerber and put the whole thing in the sippy cup and then add water. This is great because they get all the nutrients plus water to stay hydrated. It's a great way to make sure they are getting all the good stuff they need!

[lismom2]

I go to the deceptively delicious website to sneak veggies in my kids food. DD won't touch veggies. Fruits, on the other hand, she will eat too many if I let her :)
We don't do V8- yech! lol!
http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/site/

[big-mouth-burgher]

Have you ever tried making smoothies? Most kids love them and they are a great way to get fruits and veggies into your kiddo.

[craftyashley]

I agree with the rest of the posters. Sodium, preservatives, sugars, etc. Try smoothies and sneak in some veggies! The deceptively delicious book is wonderful!

[ra11en]

Our pediatrician recommended V8 fusion juices when my DD was a little older. We were giving her Gerber grape juice, but she LOVES the V8 strawberry banana juice. No artifical suger added, and no above normal sodium or preservatives. She doesn't get all wired on it at all.